Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24

the obstacles encountered during the
first three days, TO be impossible. These
four men had unbounded confidence IN
themselves and in each other. Their
discipline and experience had been
thorough and varied. They had either
forgotten or ignored The mistortunes OF
Truman G. Evarts, who separated from
bis party and wandered
THlRTY-rIGHr pAYs WITHOUT FOOD,
and was finally rescued by George
Houston, John Evans, w. Ward, and
Jack Bsrronett. he was, when found,
reduced TO the last extremity for the
want OF food. His clothes were hang
ing in tatters on his emaciated body.
His nails had become like those OF a
Wild beast. having bad to dig roots and
gather anything that would maintain
lie. This occurred in October, 1870,
Wien General WGshburn, n. L. Lang
icrd, the first park superintendent,
9nd Mr.. Gillett, from Helena, with
military escort, commanded by Lieu
tuGnt Dome, Of the Second United
states cavalry, from Fort Ellis, first
crossed the range Of mountains that
bears the Generals name, and reached
the grand canyon and upper Seyser
basin.
The Haynes party felt certain that
they could reach Yancey's, distance
Of twenty four miles, early in the after
neon, and that by following the course
Of the Yellowstone river on the right
and keeping the peaks of Mount Wash
turn on the left, they could not posi-
lily miss their destination.
Without q compass, an axe, or q
blanket. and with food enough for one
meal, the party started IN excellent
spirits and with bright sun and clear
ky. At 10 o'clock the sky was over
cast, ard they had the last CLEAN OF
sunlight for several days. a violent
snow.stcrm set in from the northeast.
They cav band of elk on the hillside
but a short distance to the left. They
seemed amazed to see the shadowy
forms Of men amid the storm. Several
advanced On the party, with heads erect,
IS if to reconnoitre. Haynes would
lave given almost any sum for a few
moments of clear weather so he could
have taLcn the whole band with him to
show them il their winter quarters.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
are becoming so numerous IN the Ma
tional Park that their footprints are III
ways seen wherever bands Of elk, deer,
or buffalo are feeding. These hungry
and ferocious beasts are gathering IN
from oil the neighboring Territories to
find their natural food where their hu-
man competitors are excluded. The
law Of nature is inexorable. The cani-
yora will increase wherever their gram
inivorous victims multiply. When an
elk or deer is cut out of the bunch 10y
these natural hunters they become an
easy prey in the deep snow. A reward
must be offered for the s,alps OF lions
and wolverines, otherwise it would be
as well to let man secure his share OF
the animals that must become food Tor
Wild beasts so long rs "no-shooting "
notices are found everywhere IN the
PARK. protecting alike claw and boot.
AS tie storm increased. the party dis
covered that every landmark of trad
and peak was obliterated. Objects b.
came invisible at "A distance OF thirty
feet. The snow from the earth Waited
together in bcwildering whirl. At lest
tlcy began to realize that they were
somewhere III the National Park and on
Mount Washburn. but just where they
could not tell. The shades of night
had settled down upon them. but the
storm still ragged and the lights of
Pleasant Valley were as yet invisible.
Some were in favor of keeping inmo-
ton all night, bat Il wiser counsel pre-
vailed. On looking around for a sultl-
bic camp Professor Haynes espied one
of those
HCCRY MOUNTAIN ARBOBS,
consisting OF n cluster of pines growing
in circle, all the trees meeting at the
top and leaving circular space within.
In these arbors the floor is usually car
rtted with a creeping cedar that in
summer needs but a blanket spread
over it to constitute luxurions couch.
This creeping plant usually winds
alound the trunks OF the trees for SIX
or eight feet, rendering the arbOr i'm
pe1v.ous TO wind and rain. There il
little doubt hut that the Indian
FIST constructed his teepee on
this model. These arbors ara
only found at the upper edge of the
timer line, at an attitude of about
9.CC0 feet. 1t seems as though a sort
of vegetable instinct compelled these
forest trees TO come together as il for
compnnionsLip and mutual protection.
Stording alone they would be uprooted
lv the winds, but in clusters, wedged
together at the top, they become an
arbor capable of resisting the most
terrible gales that sweep the mountains
where here and there a boulder is all
that can oppose their fury.
This living teepee was chosen for
their lodging. Haynes assumed the
task of digging out the snow with his
basket snow shoes, while the others be-
Gan to collect bark and pieces Of wool
cnouah to make a feeble fire, around
which they gathered. They wisely sb
stained from eating their last biscuit
The wind howled and the snow whirled
around their nrbOr, but they were well
housed, absolutely beyond the reach OF
wind and snow. They told stories anl
kept each other awake, and the
riGht wGs spent much more pleasantly
than could have been expected under
the circumstances. Next morning they
again confronted the storm, which, il
ANYTHING, was more violent. They
could not tell whether they were going
moth or south, or revolving in a circle,
- is usually the case with those that are
!cs. either in a sDow.storm or amid the
acknowledgements of bad logic. They
,till held in reserve their last biscuit
qnd mainstay. 1t was kind of food to
them so long as they knew that little
fuel was left.
ANOTHER DAY CLOSED DOWN,
but there was no friendly arbor to shell
ter nothing but the bare, bleak, noun
tain-side, with its interminable waste OF
snow, drifting from above and from be-
low. They looked into each others
faces III silence. Not word was
snoken They had lost all hope for to-